NBHA National Amateur Invitational CH
NBHA National Amateur Invitational Championship. The Alabama Region of the National Bird Hunters Association was the host of the NBHA National Amateur Invitational.
We very fortunate to have Bobby Fox of Rome GA, and Bruce Mercer of Jonesbourgh, GA judge both the Championship and Derby stakes. Bobby and Bruce both are very involved in the Cedarvalley Horseback field trials and have judged and ran dogs in both horseback and walking trials. Bobby judged the NBHA Nationals this past season. We can't thank or say enough about our sponsors; Purina is and has been so very generous to the National Bird Hunter's Association and many more sporting dog field trials. Purina donated 450 pounds of Pro-Plan to the Champion and 250 pounds to the Runner-up as well as dog food to the Derbies. They also provided discount certificates and caps for all participates. Tri-Tronics presents a Pro-500 E-Collar to the Champion. Gundog Supply furnishes gift certificates that are drawn for from all attending. Christie gives gift certificates to the winners. We were hoping for larger draw, but we are thankful for the 13 shooting dogs and 8 derbies that we did have. We had had a really good group of folks from our fellow bird hunters form the Kentucky Region of the NBHA, Ray Brown, Gary Vitali, Gregg Slone, Brett Francis and Jim Duncan. I hope they enjoyed their time with us, as much as we enjoyed their company. I wish we all were a little closer so we could attend local club trials and see them more often. It was again a privilege to have Ken Tolbert's grounds to contest this event, and we could not have gotten along without Ken and Mr. Charles help and equipment. Terry Amberson furnished his John Deere Gator for a second dog wagon, along with Mr. Charles Aston's. Ken and I were the bird planters and manned the dog wagons, Ken also served as Co-Chairman. Brud Powell is a main stay; he marshaled and scouted for anyone needing his help. Brud pitched in to do anything that needed doing. I wish I had half of Brud's horse skills. Terry Amberson stepped into anything that he could help with, he and Marty Robinson had to be substitute handlers, when Bill Garner and Mike Otinger had to attend business interests. Pat Whitt furnished lunch both days, with beans and ham, served with cornbread and homemade vegetable soup, fried pies. Everyone seemed to enjoy the good food and fellowship.
Champion
Starfire Super Sport ran in the 4th brace owned and handled by Ray Brown of Paducah Kentucky. “Mic” ran a good shooting dog race, he runs with a flowing stride and hunts hard with class. Mic has won a Regional AFTCA Walking Championship, a RU at another AFTCA Walking Championship and was RU at THE NBHA Western Regional Open Shooting Dog Championship two years back. Mic and Ray make a good team and you could read the bonding as they ran that brace. Mic had a good independent back, about five minutes into the brace. Mic had a good find, but got behind and after he was sent on, he went straight to front edge and swapped ends on the front edge corner, handler was summoned and all was well. Mic and Ray continued on to the little field where he ran the edges, where he had two more finds, and in his final few minutes he had another good find on top of the hill, good dog and handler.
Runner Up Champion
Vitali's Grouseringer Purdy ran in the first brace. She is owned and handled by the personable Gary Vitali, also from Kentucky. Purdy is a small quick little setter female that has a pretty lick running and is high and tight on her game. Purdy was found pointing at about the ten minute mark, to the front and at the edge of the cornfield. When the handler started his flushing, the bird ran in plain view between handler and dog, handler wisely got between the dog and bird and all was well. Purdy showed her maturity and training to withstand that kind of temptation even for a shooting dog with numerous placements and experience. Purdy went on a nice cast up the long field, checking out all the birdy spots, looking back to see where her handler was going. Purdy went on to have three more finds and a nice back. Purdy was a pleasure to watch did a good job also, the deciding factor probably was that the Champion was a little stronger and he had a limb find, but she did a good job, Gary said she just gave birth to a litter pups eight weeks before this trial.
The hard luck dog of the Championship was Sand Mountain Spirit owned by Mike Otinger and handled by Marty Robinson, when Mike had pressing business as afore mentioned. “Myria” was getting it done in a big way, then at 40 min she was lost on point....no one’s fault she was buried up...we have all had that to happen.
AMATEUR DERBY
The derbies ran on Saturday morning. We had eight derbies come to the line, most had their running shoes on and showed a lot of run. Marty Robinson's White Liar (Brady) earned first with a classy race and two good finds. One of Marty's other derbies; Dominator (Hank) ran a strong handling race with a good finish to earn second. Edwin Cooley's Perfect Pinnacle was third with a find. Stanley McCain ran his young setter Money and he had a good find, got confused a little, but he and Stanley had a good time
and he will be a good one.
Glad everyone came and I hope you will come back....and if I left anything or anyone out, you will just have to look over me!
Oscar Whitt
